Freefall (Jaspar)

Chapter One

Joe bolted upright, sweat dripping in cold lines down the nape of his neck and his hair, usually fluffed, pressed flat to his head. Shaking uncontrollably, he pressed his fingernails into his opposite arm and scrunched his eyes closed, without stopping to think of the consequences. He could feel the droplets of blood already running out from beneath his tight grip, but still didn't let go, not until that numb feeling would leave him. Pain was the only guaranteed way Joe had discovered, so far, that freed his mind from the detached feeling.

Usually, the deadened still that entered his thoughts felt as far away as the creatures creating the sense, and could easily be cured with a bite to the tongue or knife to his palm. Joe had grown used to this weird feeling long ago, having no control over when 'they' appeared, or how strong they were. As a child, he used to have frequent panic attacks, coinciding with the feeling, although the school councillor couldn't have possibly understood that. As such, he was prescribed to countless medications and therapy sessions, all of which inevitably failed.

Later, in his reckless teenage years, he used to give in to the numbness, and he'd let it lead him. Joe tried not to remember the day he first encountered the evil force lingering in the world, although occasionally nightmares would plague him for nights on end, an unrelenting wave.

He'd been cutting apples into slices, to take back to his room, when it hit him. The mind-killing sense of emptiness that always threatened him at every turn, tempting him towards something bigger. Without a second thought, he'd grabbed the knife, still covered with the clear juices, and headed out the door. Closing his eyes, he mentally grasped at the tie; that string was his only hope at finding the creator. He traced it, letting the route map itself through his mind and memories.

It was close, just a short run over the back field, and across the creek. Joe was there in no time, although he had to bend over to catch his breath for a few seconds. He may've been young, but that didn't give him the superpower to never tire.

Straightening up, Joe held his breath, trying to listen over his rapidly beating heart, and not just because he'd sprinted the entire way there. The numbing sense, that usually limited itself to a dull murmur, wasn't a background thought anymore; it felt similar to a blanket being laid over his head. He longed to curl into it, and fade away from his life, but as strong as the desire was, Joe's curiosity was stronger. He'd didn't want to know what would happen if he gave in to the pressure.

In front of him, a wood fence stood tall, or at least in comparison to Joe's height. He could easily vault over it if need be, but he suddenly didn't feel like that'd be such a good idea. Faintly, he could hear someone hoarsely screaming, like they were being strangled, and that alone turned Joe's bones to liquid. Against every will in his body, he crept over the grass, praying he didn't alert whatever was on the other side of the fence.

He pressed his bare chest against the wooden panels, silently berating himself for not thinking to grab a shirt and pair of shoes before hunting down the source. Clutching the knife tightly, feeling inadequately equipped to face a murderer, or whatever it was, he slowly rose onto his toes to glance over the fence.

He wished he hadn't. The sight there had terrible enough to send any grown man into an inescapable delirium, an endless tumble through twisting darkness.

A young woman was lying strewn across a stone patio, her head twisted at an inhuman angle. Her eyes were unfocused, and her face was pale. If it weren't for the muffled screams still escaping her mouth, Joe would've confirmed her dead.

He found it hard to believe she was still alive at all. Enough blood covered her body that it was impossible to tell what colour her clothes had originally been, and still more seeped from the slice across her neck, and the tiny cuts her arms and legs bore. Joe was about to call for help, until he saw the shadow stalking the yard, and was paralyzed into silence.